Having a foreign-born parent has deeply influenced my academic experience and shaped my future aspirations. My mother, Karyss, who was born in Puerto Rico, instilled in me a profound appreciation for our culture and a determination to succeed, despite the challenges we’ve faced. Growing up, I witnessed the resilience of my family, especially through the stories of my grandparents, who overcame systemic and financial inequities to provide better opportunities for their children. Not to mention, my mother raised me as a single mom with my grandma by her side in any way she could. My mom left the beautiful island of Puerto Rico in her late 20's wanting to start a new life and career for herself. This legacy of perseverance has driven me to approach my academics with discipline and a sense of purpose, knowing that my success is part of a larger narrative of resilience and progress. While growing up, I have had to navigate predominantly white school environments in Florida as a bilingual Hispanic female. This has also highlighted the value of cultural identity and representation in my academic journey. I myself was not born on the island and yet, at times, I encountered prejudice and stereotypes. However, rather than discouraging me, these experiences reinforced my determination to excel and break barriers. They taught me the importance of advocacy, equity, and creating spaces where diversity is celebrated, not marginalized. This is where my dream of becoming a lawyer further blossomed. My mother once dreamed of going to law school herself, but financial limitations prevented her from pursuing that path. Her hard work and resilience have always inspired me, but my journey is not about living through her unfulfilled aspirations. Instead, I am pursuing my dream—a dream that aligns with my passion for justice and advocacy. While I carry her determination with me, my goal is to honor her endurances by creating opportunities for others, just as she has done for me, and to forge a path that reflects both my vision and the values she instilled in me. These lessons have directly influenced my academic and career goals. Inspired by my family's, but most importantly my mom's sacrifices, I am committed to pursuing a legal career that addresses systemic issues such as housing discrimination and educational inequities that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, including Puerto Ricans. My academic pursuits are driven by the desire to honor my heritage and create meaningful change, ensuring that future generations have the opportunities my family worked so hard to provide. In essence, having a foreign-born parent has not only shaped my academic experiences but has also ingrained in me the values of resilience, justice, and collective progress that I aim to carry forward into my future endeavors. It has made me who I am today, my mother's daughter.

In 2020, the world stopped. The pandemic brought life as we knew it to a standstill. But for me, it wasn’t until 2022 that my world truly stopped—when my Mima, my grandmother, passed away. Her loss hit harder than anything I had ever experienced as she lived with my mom and me during my whole life, and the grief weighed heavily on us both. Mima wasn’t just family; she was a compass, a guiding light who always pushed me to be better, think deeper, and dream bigger. Her strength, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice were a constant reminder of the values I held close to me. Even as a child, I dreamt of becoming a lawyer. I grew up listening to stories about fairness and the fight for equality, often told by my grandmother, who had lived through injustices and challenges that I could scarcely imagine. Mima, along the side of my strong mother, inspired me to believe in the power of the law to shape a better future, to right wrongs, and to serve those who couldn’t fight for themselves. But when she passed, something shifted. I knew I wanted to pursue law, not just for me, but to carry forward the ideals she instilled in me: that the law can be a tool for change, that standing up for what is right matters, and that the best way to serve others is through compassion and dedication. While pursuing my degree in criminal justice, I did so with her always in my heart. Every class, every case study, and every discussion about justice and the law reminded me of her values and the principles my family instilled in me. My education became more than just an academic pursuit; it was a way to honor her legacy and deepen my understanding of the systems that can both protect and fail people. With every course, I reaffirmed my desire to use my future legal career to advocate for the vulnerable and to work towards a fairer, more just society. My journey to law school is not just about fulfilling a dream but about embracing a purpose. I want to be an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves, to work within the system to create change, and to continue the fight that my grandmother believed in so deeply. Law school is the next step in that journey, and I am ready to take it, driven by the lessons my mom, and of course, my Mima taught me and the determination to make a difference.

Growing up as a proud member of the Puerto Rican community, I have learned that resilience and unity are not merely values but necessities for navigating a world that often underestimates us. My Puerto Rican heritage has been a cornerstone of my identity, I myself was not born on the island but my mom and my entire family were. They all are responsible for shaping my aspirations and instilling in me a deep sense of pride in our culture, history, and collective strength. Every year we make it a tradition to go and visit and it makes my love for the island and the Boricua community only grow. From a young age, I was taught the value of perseverance through the stories of my grandparents, who worked tirelessly to create opportunities for their children despite systemic or financial inequities. Their sacrifices have always been a source of inspiration, motivating and pushing me to pursue my dreams while uplifting others in the process. As a Hispanic female living in predominantly white neighborhoods in Florida, I have often encountered barriers rooted in prejudice and discrimination within my short lifetime. While I was not born in Puerto Rico, my ability to speak Spanish and my connection to my cultural heritage have made me a target for stereotypes and biases. If anything, being bilingual is a massive skill that can take me farther than most Americans. From subtle microaggressions to overt instances of discrimination, I have experienced moments where my identity was seen as a disadvantage rather than a strength. I encountered these in school environments and potential workplaces as well. These experiences not only highlighted the persistent inequities faced by minorities but also fueled my determination to challenge these injustices. They reinforced my belief in the importance of representation, advocacy, and equity—values that have shaped my desire to pursue a career in law and work toward a society where cultural diversity is celebrated rather than marginalized. The legacy of Jesús Pérez, who worked tirelessly to dedicate their lives to serving the Puerto Rican community, inspires me to honor their contributions through my legal career. I plan to focus on issues that disproportionately impact Puerto Ricans, such as housing discrimination, educational inequities, and the preservation of civil rights. By leveraging my legal expertise, I hope to create systemic change that uplifts our community while preserving the cultural richness that defines us. Not to mention, I aspire to serve as a mentor for young Puerto Ricans, empowering them to dream beyond societal limitations and pursue their paths to success, no matter what stands in their path. In pursuing a career in law as a lawyer, I am not just seeking personal success but aiming to carry forward the legacy of resilience and determination that defines our community. My family heritage has shaped me into someone who values justice, equity, and the power of collective action. I am committed to using these values to make a lasting impact in the legal profession and beyond. I only hope to be considered for such an honor of a scholarship to assist me in reaching my dreams and goals. Yo soy Boricua, pa’ que tu lo sepa.